In my mind, it was something we had heard before and it was a good reminder.

But then I thought, “Oh, my website url should probably be updated, along with my Facebook pages and logo.” I laughed at the fact that an announcement from the prophet would so directly impact me and cause me to make a change to my business.

Then I got on Twitter and read tweets of people who had opinions all over the map.

Some in complete disagreement. “This is the same thing again.” “Doesn’t he know about SEO.” “Saying Mormon is so much easier.” “This is a waste of time.” “What about domain authority?” “How can I say I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints without losing my breath?”

These are all valid points.

Others on social media were excited about the announcement and quick to make changes to their urls, Facebook page names, and Twitter handles.

I love Al Carraway’s response on Facebook which highlights her excitement in have a living prophet to follow. One thing she said that I loved was this: “‪I went far too long without a prophet in my personal life and far too long without God & this past week has left me nothing but humbled & excited & tear-filled grateful…”

Christopher Cunningham of Mormon Hub wrote an incredible article regarding President Nelson’s announcement and I would encourage you all to read it. One of the things he said will stay with me for a long time. He was interviewed by the Deseret News about the announcement and was quoted saying: “The gist of the article I posted today was, ‘A prophet’s no good who tells you what you’re already thinking'”.

How cool is that? I love that perspective and it certainly rings true to my heart and mind.

I went far too long without a prophet in my personal life and far too long without God

But something I read recently was even more powerful than that.

It were some words from an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Neil L. Andersen and his wife have been accompanying President and Sister Nelson on their trip to Canada, and Elder Andersen is sharing some incredible messages on his Facebook page about the trip.

One thing he shared was in regards to a comment President Nelson made in regards to the correct name of the church.

“In a comment about emphasizing the correct name of the Church, President Nelson said that this was not an effort to rename the Church, but a need to correct something that has replaced the name the Lord gave to the Church. He said that we revere the name of Mormon as a prophet and writer, but he was sure that Mormon would not want the Church named after him. He added that many say that this can’t be done, but it will be done.”

My message to those who doubt President Nelson is this, “Don’t.” I understand some of your concerns, but I invite you to accept his challenge and invitation with excitement and joy, not with skepticism and concern.

many say that this can’t be done, but it will be done.

I have full confidence in our prophet. He is a seer, and that is a more powerful tool than SEO, keywords, and hashtags will ever be. Let us receive his counsel with joy and watch miracles happen as we engage in the work of gathering Israel and bringing the blessings of Christ’s gospel to all of God’s children.

17 Comments

I feel the same way as Our President Nelson received from Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that the Church is not Mormon Church it is The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints I have been a member for 30 years and it would upset me when I would tell friends the Name of my Church and did not know of it until I would say The Mormon Church and I would had felt better by my friends knowing the True Name of MY Church The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints

In recent days there has been a calling from overzealous “Saints” for Facebook groups & pages, websites, twitter accounts and the like to change their names and titles to reflect the Prophets statement of use of the proper name of the church. They have taken his statement and added in the church’s media style guide to back their claims. However they neglect this part of the style guide:
“Mormon” is correctly used in proper names such as the Book of Mormon or when used as an adjective in such historical expressions as “Mormon Trail.”
In other words the use of “Mormon” in proper names or as an adjective. Would this not cover the proper names and titles of these pages, accounts and websites? I think so.

Secondly, if we go by the logic of the overzealous then why are we not allowed to call ourselves “Christian”? It says nothing of that in the style guide just as it says nothing of us calling each other “LDS”. The overzealous have condemned the use of “LDS” (as what we call ourselves) but not “Christian”….why?

President Nelson is talking about the use of the proper name of the Church. (PERIOD)
Not about the proper name of facebook pages, Twitter accounts and Websites.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on this. So, until things are clarified I will not change the name of my page. However, if the clarification doesn’t come I have decided that I will change the name of my page “LDS Standing United” (I’ll spell out LDS) when I see the church remove all references and titles with “LDS” or “Mormon” in them. In the meantime…Stop attacking me like I’m some sort of apostate!
This crazy “Mormon” mob mentality is making me feel like a statue in the south during the history purge of 2015.

I joined th church in 1959 in Wairoa Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and I clearly remember that a question I asked after my baptism was why are we as church members called Mormons… Shirle .
The answer in general was it was more convenient and shorter than The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints….Whether that was the reason or not….I in my newness in the gospel felt to be obedient to the words of the priesthood….
I am quietly and humbly grateful to P
Resident Nelson for the relief of his council and reasoning in supporting that we are members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am not puzzled anymore and i am sure that there must have been a reason why we could be referred to as Mormons in the past…….but now that time is over and the lord has declared to our beloved prophet of today to advise us all of the change….I will do so with gratitude and committment…….

One only need read 3 Nephi 27:7-8 to know the truth. The Savior is quite clear in telling us that any church that is called by any name but His does not belong to Him. We are correct in calling ourselves Latter-day Saints to differentiate us from the members if the early Church, who were called Saints. When we call the Church or ourselves Mormon, then we belong to Mormon and not Christ. If we refer to it as the LDS church or the church of the latter-day saints, it belongs to those people. Only when we call it the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and refer to ourselves by that title do we belong to Christ. This shouldn’t be so hard to grasp and want to fully embrace.

Barbara, you are right – it is all in that scripture. I don’t understand why something so simple is being met with such opposition, but I know people will see the wisdom in it further down the line. And this is the church of Jesus Christ. He name must be known in the world.

Terry, thank you for your explanation and insight. It makes a lot of sense and I am so grateful you took the time to explain your perspective. You are awesome and I am so grateful for all of the good you do. I guess we can be apostates together, because I’m sure getting some stones thrown at me too. 🙂

For a long time I have felt that the Lord should be petitioned to change the name of the church to The Church of Jesus Christ. I know He is responsive to the needs of those who strive to follow Him, and this title is short, dignified, and eliminates the problems that have long troubled the members of the church. It may be that He is testing us to identify a problem in the church, seek a solution, receive confirmation that the solution is valid, and then move forward. I also believe He wants us to be free agents on a path to become like Him, and not mindless followers who must be directed in all things.

It is amazing that we are the same people who are amazed by the Nephites when they were disobedient to their prophets . I cannot believe why do we think that this matter needs our opinion it doesn’t it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints period. President Nelson was not voted in He called him. If you do not like what the Lord does in His Church maybe you need to have your own church. In this Church He is leading through His living prophet President Nelson .

Since January the Lord revealed His will upon His fervent man, Russell Marion Nelson, my heart has been burning of impatience to see him in the 188th April General conference ! I felt a greater joy as I saw him talking… I sustain President Nelson,Lord’s Prophet as Prophet Seer Revelator And President of His entire Church… I love you so much, President Nelson And I always pray for you !

iv always felt some feelings of discomfort, when people have called themselves Mormons, but didnt really understand why i had those feelings, now i know why, it is the Lord Jesus Christs Church and we need to let the world know that we belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we worship Him and not Mormon or Joseph Smith, we need to let the world know that we are Christians. i fully sustain our Prophet and seer, president Russell M. Nelson, the Lords chosen one, to lead us at this time, i am so grateful to have a living Prophet on the earth today.

This is such a very small thing to ask of us, that I don’t really understand why there is even a controversy … other than that it seems to be the way of the world today. Many people, from the very beginning of our church’s history, have been asked to sacrifice so much to bring us to where we are today. Christians throughout the world today are being persecuted in unimaginable ways, and they are standing strong. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we can easily stand strong in making clear who we are. God’s ways are not our ways, and those who believe in a living prophet will gladly support him and The One whom he speaks for.